Research by Countrywide agency Hamptons shows that during 2020 some 41,700 new buy to let limited companies were formed. That’s a record for a year and an...
Letting Agent Today - Breaking News
Here is today’s Breaking News from Letting Agent Today. Join the debate by leaving a comment below a story - you will need to be logged-in to do this.
Breaking News
Labour in Commons onslaught about Coronavirus evictions
Two Labour MPs have made extensive claims about the number of evictions from the private rental sector likely to happen if and when current bans on...
New property ID system aims to identify rogue buy to lets
A new property identification system which has won the backing of ARLA Propertymark and substantial parts of the industry has said rooting out rogue buy to...
Regional agency says unique business model is behind success
A regional lettings agency says its better-than-expected 2020 performance is down at least partly to having what it calls a unique business model. The Manchester Apartments agency...
Tips for agents coping with remote working and home schooling
The Guild of Property Professionals has issued tips for agents and other industry professionals having to cope with working from home and schooling for their children...
Agents told to prepare for new off-payroll working rules
ARLA Propertymark is advising agents to get up to speed on new rules - and possible higher costs - when changes to off-payroll working rules come...
Scrapping of S21 and new transferable deposits likely “very soon”
The long-awaited Renters' Reform Bill, promised 14 months ago, is likely to be introduced to the House of Commons “very soon.” The Bill is set to include...
Letting agents should be proud of their role, urges industry supplier
Letting agents should stand proud of their record helping both landlords and tenants, especially in these more difficult times. That’s the view of an industry supplier -...
Property maintenance Covid regulations tightened in Scotland
There’s been a small change to the Coronavirus regulations as they apply to the maintenance and upkeep of properties in Scotland. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday announced...
UK rental market "dragged down" by London crisis
A rental market snapshot says the UK-wide lettings picture is dragged down by Greater London's excess of supply, and by the exodus of renters wanting to...
Eviction ban extension - predictable but an opportunity, says PropTech chief
A leading market commentator and PropTech chief says the extension of the bailiff-enforced eviction ban was predictable, but presents agents with an opportunity. Last weekend the ban...
Momentum builds for student rent discounts - another firm joins in
A second student accommodation provider has announced a rent discount. Student Roost has told its residents they can apply for a discount of up to six weeks’...
Agencies must be more tolerant of staff doing home schooling
The head of industry recruitment consultancy Property Personnel is calling on agencies to be more tolerant of the struggles working parents are encountering during lockdown. Managing director...
Agency chain shows benefit of financial services diversification
Franchise giant Belvoir has issued a statement to shareholders emphasising the success of its financial services wing. The Belvoir Group established its financial services division in 2017...
Rent discount announced by major student accommodation provider
Unite Students, one of the UK's leading student accommodation providers, is giving tenants a rent reduction. Students will be able to apply for a discount of 50...
Right To Rent checks “under review” by Home Office
The government says it’s reviewing the checking process that agents and landlords have to follow under Right To Rent. The revelation has come to light in a...
Coronavirus fears push ARLA Conference back yet again
The annual ARLA Propertymark conference and exhibition, which wasn’t held at all last year because of Coronavirus, has been pushed back yet again. The event - regarded...
PropTech firms reveal latest products aimed at letting agents
Movinghub UK has announced its latest integration with Reapit. Movinghub allows agents to assist tenants and other home movers to organise services and utility providers either online...
Big Build To Rent development in target city set to complete in 2023
Build To Rent giant Grainger has purchased the rights to a 231-home development in Bristol for around £63m. In a statement to shareholders Grainger says Bristol is...
Agents back new Mediation scheme between landlords and tenants
Propertymark has thrown its weight behind an idea from Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick to create a mediation service to arbitrate in disputes between tenants and landlords. The...
Angry activists want arrears cancelled as well as full eviction ban
Activists from a range of pressure groups have reacted angrily to what they call a half-baked eviction ban announced by the government. Just before the start of...
Look at this - fantastic NHS support from artful community lettings agency
Congratulations from all of us at Letting Agent Today - and probably most of the rest of the industry - to Martin & Co's Chelmsford office for...
EweMove takes over nearby franchise agency and lettings book
A EweMove branch has acquired a nearby Martin & Co operation, including its portfolio of 150 managed properties. Both firms are owned by parent company The Property...
Eviction ban backed by loan scheme paid directly to agents in Wales
While the Westminster government has extended its version of the eviction ban in England until February 21, a longer ban - until March 31 - comes...
Eviction ban extended in England and Wales
The ban on bailiff-enforced evictions for private renters has been extended in England and Wales. This will be until February 21 “at least” according to Housing Secretary...
Eviction ban extended in Scotland - will England do the same?
The ban on private rental evictions in Scotland has been formally extended by two months, with a high expectation that a similar approach will be announced...
Agents tell government: Get a grip on rental debt
Letting agents have joined forces with other players in the rental industry to demand the government finally get a grip on rental debt. ARLA Propertymark has signed...
Goodbye Build To Rent? BTR name may be ditched to boost image
Major players in the Build To Rent sector are joining forces to see if they can give the industry a more memorable and interesting name -...
Short Lets body wants public cash for lost lockdown income
A trade body wants the government to ensure its latest lockdown grants cover short lets businesses. The UK Short Term Accommodation Association claims that last year many...
Build To Rent operator claims 6,000 new homes are underway
One of the country’s largest Build To Rent players, Legal & General, says it’s started work on 6,000 residential units in the past year - most...
Boris Johnson confirms eviction ban is “under review”
The Prime Minister has told MPs that the eviction ban effectively in place now but scheduled to expire on January 11 is officially “under review.” Boris Johnson...
Fifth of city’s private rental homes have serious problems - claim
A council claims that as many as a fifth of all the private rental sector homes in its area have a serious housing hazard, such as...
Pets in Rental Properties: Date set for MPs to debate issue
January 29th is the date set for MPs to hold the Second Reading of a Private Members’ Bill aimed at the abolition of no-pet clauses in...
New PropTech platform aims to help HMO property management
A new HMO and co-living property management platform launches today, aimed at optimising tenancy occupancy. The service - called COHO - claims to help property investors and...
Agency gets Premiership rugby sponsorship deal over the line
A Belvoir franchise has agreed on a new partnership with Premiership rugby team, Swansea RFC. The deal means not only will the lettings and sales agency be...
Extension to bailiff and eviction ban “extremely likely” warns trade body
It is “extremely likely” there will be an extension to the current ban on bailiffs conducting evictions even after court orders have been made. That’s the view...
Section 21 Abolition - Labour offers to work with Tories
Labour housing spokesperson Thangam Debbonaire has released details of a letter seeking further clarity and commitments on the rental sector eviction process - she sent it...
Home Counties independents merge to become bigger lettings force
Two lettings and property management firms have merged with the aim of increasing market share in Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex. Property Services Haslemere (PSHL), based in...
Rents begin 2021 on a high almost everywhere…except London
The average rent in the UK, measured just before the turn of the year, is £979, showing a 2.7 per cent increase on December 2019. When London...
Lockdown regulations mean agents can continue Covid-secure working
Letting agents and the rental market in England are still in business even during the national lockdown already in force. The government’s official guidance for England says...
New lettings agency giant created with £100m private equity cash
Lomond Capital, which owns Scottish lettings and estate agents Braemore and Stonehouse, is to merge with Yorkshire firm Linley & Simpson. The new group has a combined...
Agency opens new hub office taking over from nearby branches
Brown & Co’s new regional hub has opened in Lincoln, which will be the new base for the company’s team relocated from Grantham and Spalding. Charles Whitaker,...
Agency names award after much-loved colleague who died of Covid
A family-run lettings and sales agency has launched an employee of the year award in memory of a late colleague. The Vic Southerington Award, which was...
Agency partner platform adds bill-sharing to student services
UniHomes, a student accommodation platform, has snapped up Split The Bills, a bill sharing service aimed at the student market. UniHomes - which already works with lettings...
Connells’ lettings activities are key to how it will run Countrywide
Connells has made it clear that the innovation and technology it has put into lettings are key to identifying the approach it will take to running Countrywide’s...
No more rent controls! Politicians warned of supply shortage
Propertymark is making it clear that rent controls are not the way to operate an efficient lettings market. In a formal response to consultation on the Scottish...
Small number of tenancies end with deposit disputes, says government
Only 0.3 per cent of all tenancies in England and Wales ended with a dispute over the deposit in the six months to the end of...
2021 could be a good year for the rental market after all, says agent
The next 12 months could be a surprisingly good year for the private rental sector despite some obvious challenges, according to a leading agent. David Alexander, head...
Compliance webinar programme this month for Propertymark agents
Propertymark is hosting a series of three webinars this month for agents wanting to hear the latest on legislating changes affecting both the lettings and sales...
Court backlogs and eviction curbs to dominate 2021 - Propertymark
The new chief executive of Propertymark has outlined what he sees as the main challenges for the rental sector for 2021. In a statement to the National...